Marian Gaborik

Gaborik has played just 110 games and tallied only 22 goals and 43 points over the last two seasons. The 35-year-old winger has battled injuries throughout his career, and he's now suited up for an average of just 55 contests per season since the lockout-shortened campaign i...

Gaborik is the definition of a boom-or-bust fantasy player. When he can stay healthy for a full season (or close to it), he’s one of the game’s most dangerous snipers – but you could go bankrupt in a hurry betting on the Slovakian winger avoiding injury. He hasn’t cracked 70 games since 2011-12, and now he’s 34 years old and coming off his worst NHL season (a miserable 22 points in 54 games). Nonetheless, Gaborik’s top-six slot is nearly guaranteed because he’s making a lot of money and the Kings aren’t deep on the wings. For that reason alone, he’s worth nabbing if available late and cheap on draft day – just make sure you have a backup plan.

2015-16

After struggling to stay on the ice in 2013-14, Gaborik managed to enjoy relative sound health this past season, his first full campaign in Los Angeles. The 33-year-old scored 27 goals, which was good for second on the team, and added 20 assists in his 69 games, providing the Kings with a top-line stalwart to pair next to star center Anze Kopitar. Gaborik’s best asset is his deadliness on the power play, where he scored a team-high 11 goals to go along with seven assists. He also registered his highest shooting percentage for a season while playing more than 20 games. If Gaborik can maintain close to a 15 percent shooting rate and stay on the ice -- neither of which are safe bets by any means -- playing alongside Kopitar and new teammate Milan Lucic should only help his point totals.

2014-15

Gaborik joined the Kings in a deadline deal and immediately clicked with Anze Kopitar, recording 16 points in 19 games for the Kings. He did miss a chunk of time last season due to a knee injury and a broken collarbone, but he’s still been much healthier recently than he was earlier in his career. Gaborik is still a highly-skilled player when able to suit up, and evidently knows a good fit when he sees it. The 32-year-old settled on a below-market-value seven-year, $34.125 million contract in the offseason to remain in Los Angeles, where he again figures to reunite with Kopitar on the top line and provide the Kings with a truly dynamic scoring duo. Welcome back to serious fantasy relevance, Mr. Gaborik.

2013-14

Gaborik's production plummeted in his final season on Broadway as he and then-Rangers coach John Tortorella just couldn't see eye to eye, but a deadline deal woke him up and he managed eight points in 12 games as the Blue Jackets made a late but futile run at a playoff spot. He's got one more year left on his deal and still possesses elite sniping skills when healthy, so a contract year explosion is always possible, but he won't have a top-shelf pivot to set him up in Columbus and will likely be hard-pressed to manage another 40-goal, 80-point campaign with the blue-collar Jackets.

2012-13

After posting a solid season of 41 goals and 35 assists, Gaborik underwent offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and could be out until early December. The 30-year-old former first-round pick is a great offensive anchor for any roster with his point-per-game production, but the uncertainty surrounding his shoulder will drag his value down a bit in the 2012-13 season. If he does fall in drafts, fantasy owners would be wise to snag the sniper with a mid-round pick and stash him on the IR until he's ready to contribute with early-round production. Gaborik is one of the NHL's elite offensive talents, but his name has always been adorned with the dreaded "when healthy" caveat.

2011-12

Gaborik's second tour with the Rangers in 2010-11 was forgettable, as he finished with 22 goals and 26 assists in 62 games. Those would be respectable totals for your average forward, but one has to consider that this was a 38-point drop from what Gabby totaled in the previous season. Of course, not helping matters was a shoulder injury that limited the sniper on the ice for a handful of games. Provided Gabby can stay healthy, the arrival of Brad Richards should be the key factor in helping the Slovakian rebound in 2011-12. His expected union with the top playmaker should make Gaborik an early-round fantasy pick. Look for his name just after the elite forwards are off the board.

2010-11

The Slovakian speedster was as good as advertised in his first year on Broadway. After receiving a five-year, $37.5 million deal with the Rangers in July of 2009, Gaborik turned in arguably his best season as a pro – he set a career high with 86 points and tied his career-best with 42 goals. Having played in just 17 games for the Wild in the 2008-09 season, Gabby bounced back and played in 76 contests for the Rangers, averaging a career-high 21:15 of ice time per game. While he will continue be looked at as an injury-prone player, Gaborik has the potential to lead the league in goals if he can stay on the ice for 75-plus games. However, the biggest question mark surrounding Gaborik this season will be who skates on the top line with him. The newly acquired Alex Frolov will be given every opportunity to play on the left wing, while the center position could go to one of several options: Vaclav Prospal, Brandon Dubinsky, Erik Christensen, or the latest Rangers acquisition, Todd White. Regardless of what the combination turns out to be, one thing is certain: Gaborik will produce plenty of goals and points. That is, as long as he stays healthy.

2009-10

Gaborik has battled a myriad of injuries in his eight years of NHL service. He's played 75 games or more just twice in those eight years, and played in a career-low 17 contests last year after dealing with first a hip injury and then a groin injury. He was superb upon returning to the Wild, and secured himself the big-time contract that the Rangers would eventually offer. He's shown repeatedly the type of scorer he can be, but he'll need to stay on the ice to be worthy of the $37 million New York bestowed upon him. His value will be directly tied not just to his scoring total, but to his number of games played. He's already battling a groin injury in training camp.

2008-09

Gaborik has become the face of the Wild due to his stellar play throughout the years. 2007-08 was no exception as he pitched in a jaw dropping 83 points (42G, 41A) in 77 games. A downside to Gabby is his propensity for injury. He had offseason surgery to correct a torn labrum in his hip though he should be ready for the regular season opener, barring another setback. On more than one occasion, the star winger has flirted with the idea of free agency which he qualifies for at season's end. Bottom line is that Gaborik is an immense talent, but his fantasy value is partially barred by the defense-first mind of head coach Jacques Lemaire. Gaborik is the perfect example of high-risk/high-reward in fantasy play this season.

2007-08

Gaborik will once again be paired at left wing with Pavol Demitra on Minnesota's top line. Injuries are all that's prevented Gaborik from becoming a superstar and top fantasy pick. He's second behind just Dany Heatley at goals per game the past two seasons (68 goals in 113 games), but has missed time each of the past two years with groin injuries. He worked hard in the offseason to strengthen his abdominal muscles, but remains a high-risk, high-reward pick.

2006-07

Gaborik averaged over a point per game (66 points in 65 games) but missed 16 games due to hip and groin injuries. He's battled injury problems his last two seasons, but could develop into a superstar if healthy now that fellow Slovak Pavol Demitra will be on his line.

2005-06

When we last saw Gaborik he failed to live up to the hype and emerge as one of the NHL's next superstars. Gaborik held out for the first month of the 2003-04 season and never got on track, scoring just 18 goals and 40 points in 65 games. A hip injury also contributed to a slow season. However, he's just 23 years old and don't forget his 30 goals and 65 points in 2002-03. Gaborik started the 2002-03 season with 25 goals in 37 games, faded in the second half, and then rebounded with a strong playoff showing with nine goals in 18 games. He should climb to the 80+ points level this season as he's the focus of the offense and is healthy and under contract.